Lakewood Distracted Driving Car Accident Lawyers

Distracted driving is one of the most common hazards out on the road. With the prevalence of cell phones and vehicle infotainment systems, drivers have even more potential distractions to contend with. Even a few seconds of distraction may be enough for a driver to fail to realize they are about to cause a collision. Injured victims of distracted driving accidents deserve to pursue financial recovery for their medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

If you were injured in an accident that was caused by a distracted driver, reach out to the Lakewood car accident lawyers of The Law Offices of Briggs & Briggs today for a free initial case evaluation. You’ll learn more about how we can help you to recover compensation for your injuries, property damage, and other losses. Give us a call at (253) 588-6696 or contact us online.

Injuries Commonly Suffered in Distracted Driving Accidents

Distracted driving accidents tend to involve more violent impacts, as a distracted driver may not begin to brake or swerve to avoid a collision until the last minute. As a result, victims of distracted driving accidents may suffer serious injuries such as:

• Broken bones
• Ligament sprains and muscle/tendon strains
• Whiplash
• Herniated discs
• Internal organ damage or bleeding
• Spinal cord injuries
• Paralysis
• Facial injuries
• Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries
• Traumatic amputation

What Causes Distracted Driving Accidents?

A distracted driving accident may occur when a motorist is operating their vehicle while engaged in some task other than the act of driving. Driver distractions can fall into one or more three general categories:

• Manual distractions, which involve a driver taking a hand or both hands off the steering wheel.
• Visual distractions, which occur when a driver takes their eyes off the road.
• Cognitive distractions, which involve a driver taking their attention and mental effort off the act of driving.

Common distracted driving behaviors include:

• Cell phone use, including texting while driving
• Eating food or drinking a beverage
• Reaching around the passenger cabin for an object
• Adjusting the radio, climate control, navigation device, or infotainment system
• Grooming or applying makeup
• Reading a map, magazine, newspaper, or book
• Watching video on a phone, tablet, laptop, or another electronic device
• Interacting with other passengers or vehicle occupants (such as pets)
• Looking at road signs or other objects outside the vehicle
• Daydreaming

What to Do Following a Distracted Driving Accident

After you have been involved in an accident with a distracted driver, you can protect your rights and options to later pursue a claim for financial compensation by following these steps:

• Contact the authorities (including calling 911 if someone has been injured) and exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver or drivers in the accident. Also, make sure to get contact information for any eyewitnesses to the crash.
• Document the accident scene by taking photos or video of details, such as vehicle damage, skid marks on the road, traffic signs and controls, weather and lighting conditions, and any visible injuries you may have suffered.
• See a doctor as soon as possible after the accident to have a physician diagnose any injuries you sustained in the crash. Follow all treatment instructions and recommendations given to you by your health care provider.
• Notify your insurer about the accident as soon as possible.
• Keep copies of all bills and invoices for expenses incurred due to the accident. Also make sure to obtain copies of your income records if you miss time from work while recovering from injuries.

Finally, make time to speak to the auto accident attorneys of The Law Offices of Briggs & Briggs to discuss the details of your case and to learn more about what next steps you can take to pursue your rights to financial compensation.

Distracted Driving Accident Laws

In Washington State, distracted driving accident claims are subject to several important laws:

• Texting-while-driving law: Under state law, drivers may not hold a cell phone in one or both hands, or use a cell phone to watch video while engaged in driving a car. Drivers may use a cell phone via a hands-free method or to contact emergency services. Drivers who violate this law may be ticketed and subject to fines.
• Comparative fault law: In Washington State, an injured party is not barred from pursuing a claim for compensation even though they bear some of the fault for their injuries. The state uses a pure comparative negligence system, meaning that someone who is even 99 percent at fault for causing their own injuries may pursue a claim against the party who bears the other one percent of the fault. However, under this system, the compensation that the injured party would be entitled to can be reduced in proportion to the share of fault they have for their injuries.
• Statute of limitations: A distracted driving accident victim typically has three years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit against the distracted driver who was at fault for the accident. If a lawsuit is filed after the statute of limitations expires, the case can be permanently dismissed, and the injured party left with no legal options for demanding compensation from the at-fault driver.

Why Choose The Law Offices of Briggs & Briggs to Help You After a Distracted Driving Accident?

When you have a distracted driving claim, an attorney from The Law Offices of Briggs & Briggs can help you to recover compensation for your injuries and losses by:

• Conducting a thorough investigation of the accident and review of the evidence
• Working with accident reconstruction experts to persuasively explain how the accident occurred
• Documenting your injuries to calculate what fair compensation looks like for you
• Filing insurance claims or lawsuits on your behalf, pursuing financial recovery in a negotiated settlement or at trial

For 70 years, our distracted driving accident attorneys have been holding careless and reckless drivers accountable for injuring our clients due to their distracted driving. Our attorneys and staff were born, raised, and live in the Puget Sound community. We are dedicated to not only getting you the financial compensation and justice you deserve but also to building a safer place for us all to live.

Contact Us

After you have been involved in a distracted driving accident, let the Lakewood car accident attorneys of The Law Offices of Briggs & Briggs guide you through the process of seeking financial recovery and justice. Call our firm at (253) 588-6696 or fill out our website’s contact form for a free, no-obligation consultation. You can discuss your legal rights and options with a knowledgeable member of our legal team and learn your next best steps to move forward.